Henry Martin Gossett

Lt. Col. (US Army ret.) Henry Martin Gossett died at his home on June 10, 2013 in Bearden. He was born in Bearden, Ark. on December 11, 1917 to John Charles and Ora Goodgame Gossett. He graduated from Bearden High School in 1935. He earned his BS in Animal Husbandry from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville with plans to attend Veterinary School. Col. Gossett entered the military service instead and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant AUS from Officers Candidate School. During World War II, he was a decorated battlefield soldier serving in the European Theater under General George S. Patton with the 3rd Army in the 120th AAA (90mm) Anti-Aircraft Gun Battalion. Following the war, Col. Gossett and his new bride, Mary Nelle Blackwell Gossett, were assigned to the 764th AAA Gun Battalion in Panama. Returning to CONUS in 1948 Col. Gossett attended the Regular Army Officers' Advanced Artillery Course. With the completion of the Course in June of 1950, he was given the assignment of Assistant Professor of Millitary Science at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. In 1952 he was reassigned to the Joint United States Military Aid Group in Athens, Greece as Artillery Advisor to the Royal Hellenic Artillery School. Col. Gossett attended the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas following his return to the United States. Upon completion of the Command College he was assigned to the Office of the Chief Army Reserve and ROTC at The Pentagon in Washington D.C. In June of 1959 Col. Gossett was assigned as Artillery Advisor to the Arkansas National Guard. Departing the U.S. again in September 1961, Col. Gossett was assigned as Senior Advisor to the Royal Saudi Arabia Artillery School until September 1962 when he returned to the states to attend the Nike Universal Officers Course at the U.S. Army Air Defense School, Fort Bliss, Texas. Col. Gossett assumed command of the 4th Missile Battalion, 562nd Artillery on January 25, 1963. Col. Gossett retired from active duty on November 27, 1964 after completing 23 years of service to his country. In 1965 Martin and Mary Gossett enrolled in the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville to complete their graduate work in education. With their Masters Degrees completed they moved their family to his hometown of Bearden where they both taught school for many years, she as the high school counselor and he as the Agriculture teacher. He was a longtime member and former Elder of Maul Road Church of Christ. He served on the Board of Directors for Ouachita Electric Cooperative and Farm Bureau. He was also actively involved with Camp Couchdale. He was preceded in death by wife, Mary Nelle Blackwell Gossett; parents; and a brother, Charles Gossett. He is survived by a son, Charles (Pam) Gossett of Bearden; two daughters, Missy (Ronnie) Reynolds of Hot Springs and Dr. Brenda Gossett of Little Rock. He is survived by two grandchildren, Scott (Kristi) Dannelley and Laney (Jason) McConnell, all of Benton. He is also survived by four great-grandchildren, Connor Scott and Cole Ross Dannelley and Merritt Grace and Mary Charles McConnell. He is also survived by two sisters, Sara Gossett of Bearden and Ann Hearnsberger of Houston, and one niece, Susan Daniel of Houston. A visitation is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. at Proctor Funeral Home on Wednesday, June 12th. The funeral will be held on Thursday, June 13th at 11 a.m. at Proctor Funeral Home Chapel with Johnny Hobbie conducting the service. Burial will be at Moss Hill Cemetery in Bearden under the direction of Proctor Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be Harry Clemens, Ronnie Emerson, Jas Stuckey, Glenn Glover, Jim McCarty, and Fred Starnes. The family wishes to thank Dr. Joe DeLuca, Dr. G. Allen McFarland, OCMC Hospice, Dr. Braden, his nurses and staff: Elana, Traci, Lisa, Julia, Emily, Clara, Sherry, Alice and Becky for their wonderful care during "Pa's" extended illness. We cannot express enough gratitude to "Pa's" loving caregivers and friends: Michele King, Harriette Fletcher, Clara Hopson, LaDonna Rabion, Keisha Robinson and his closest and dearest friend, Rickey King. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Maul Road Church of Christ, 1425 Maul Road, Camden, Ark. 71701. Proctor Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. To sign the online guest register visit www.proctorfuneralhome.com